Monday, June 13, 2011

Raila wants school health drives back

Two ministries were on Monday directed to resume health programmes in public schools.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga said provision of de-wormers and other school-based health initiatives should be expanded across all levels of the education system.

“It is unfortunate that much of the school de-worming programmes have now been interrupted.

“I am directing the Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Education to rectify this situation as soon as possible,” Mr Odinga said.

Speaking during a public education forum at Precious Blood Secondary School in Nairobi, the PM said “school is the best place to keep children healthy, and being healthy allows them to learn better.”

He also called for provision of safe drinking water in schools.

“Poor or inadequate facilities are an impediment for more effective learning at school, particularly for girls, and therefore should be addressed urgently,” he said.

At the same time, Mr Odinga supported proposals for introduction of conditional cash transfer targeting poor parents.

“Cash transfer would help parents to pay for uniform and school food on the condition that their children continue to go to school.

“If the amount transferred was a little more than the monies that parents pay to school, cash transfer can also help prevent children from being sent out to work or from being married off to earn some money for their families,” he said.